Xabi Alonso scored two goals - including an 86th-minute penalty - to give Spain a 2-1 win over Argentina in a friendly.

21.39 Rep of Ireland 0-1 France

Huge let off for the Irish. Anelka seizes on a defensive lapse to flick the ball away from Given and with the goal gaping, Gignac fires his effort high, wide and for a throw in.

21.30 GOAL! Rep of Ireland 0-1 France

It's been coming but France are gifted a soft breakthrough. Anelka's effort takes a huge deflection off St Ledger and wrong foots Given.

True blue: French players celebrate with Nicolas Anelka

21.20 Rep of Ireland 0-0 France

Big call from the referee. Evra runs on to Gourcuff's through ball, beats Given and goes down but his appeal tuned down.

21.20 Rep of Ireland 0-0 France

France in command and Gignac's header pushed over by Given.

21.08 GOAL! Spain 1 Argentina 1 (Leo Messi Pen 62)

21.03 GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Bruno Alves 31)

20.46 Half time Rep of Ireland 0-0 France

20.29 Rep of Ireland 0-0 France

What a chance for the Irish. Keane's one-on-one with the keeper but his shot is blocked and the ball rebounds to Lawrence six yards out and his first-time effort is deflected past the post by the toe of Evra.

20.11 Rep of Ireland 0-0 France

France have the ball in the net after Gignac lobbed Given from 25 yards out but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

High stakes: France's Patrice Evra after being tackled during the crunch World Cup play-off

Egypt beat Algeria 2-0 in their African qualifying Group C match in Cairo on Saturday with both teams finishing the campaign with identical records. They will now face a sudden death playoff in Sudan on Wednesday to decide who goes through to next year's finals in South Africa.

A tame affair in the end, England going down to defeat thanks to Nilmar's fine header early in the second half. Fabio Capello has suffered a fourth defeat as England boss and today he saw his injury-ht team create very little against a Brazil side who will be among the favourites to win the World Cup next summer. Justifiably so, too, on this confident and controlled display.

18.45 Northern Ireland 0-1 Serbia (Danko Lazovic 56)

Easy as you like for Serbia, a break down the left finds its way to PSV Eindhoven's Danko Lazovic, the Serbs' captain, who slots home from 12 yards.

18.40 Brazil 1-0 England

Lucio lets fly from 25 yards and the centre-back's screamer crashes into Foster's left-hand post. I couldn't see Matty Upson doing that somehow.

Despite trailing, Algeria are still on course for a place in the World Cup finals. Another goal would change that, mind, and force the two nations into a play-off. Given that their team-bus was stoned yesterday, they would probably rather do without that. A 3-0 win for Egypt would send them through.

18.30 Brazil 1-0 England

James Milner goes very close with a far post volley from Wright-Phillips' excellent cross, but his cushioned shot back across goal is slightly too high.

18.21 Brazil 1-0 England

It's men against boys now with Brazil in total control in Doha. England are being run ragged by their silky touches and calm but penetrating passing. Rooney and co just can't get hold of the ball and Elano slices wide from 12 yards when he should have made it 2-0.

Tussle: Wayne Rooney and Felipe Melo in action

18.16 Luis Fabiano misses penalty for Brazil!

Wes Brown, what were you thinking? England's right-back chests back to Ben Foster but Nilmar was lurking behind and stole in. Ben Foster brings the pacy striker down, it's a blatant spot-kick and the Manchester United man is luck not to see red. But England are reprieved as Luis Fabiano blasts it way, way over the crossbar.

18.08 GOAL! Brazil 1-0 England (Nilmar 46)

A beautifully simple strike from the Samba superstars. Elano (remember him?) floats a pinpoint pass straight onto the head of the onrushing Nilmar, who guides his header across Foster and into the net.

17.58 Northern Ireland 0-0 Serbia

Absolutely nothing doing so far at Windsor Park.That's all there is to say, really.

17.52Full time Russia 2-1 Slovenia

Wednesday's second leg in Maribor should be one to watch now after Russia switched off in the last ten minutes and allowed Slovenia a way back into the tie. Guus Hiddink will be livid about that, but his side are still favourites to claim a place in South Africa.

17.48 Half time England 0 Brazil 0

A rather entertaining first half comes to a close, and England can be reasonably satisfied with their evening's work so far. Lescott, Brown and Upson have looked solid at the back and Barry has kept things ticking in the middle of the pitch.

Bent and Rooney have been rather starved of service so far, however, and Brazil looked extremely dangerous for a ten minute period, with Kaka pulling all the strings.Still room for improvement then.

17.47GOAL! Russia 2-1 Slovenia (Nejc Pecnik
88)

Nejc Pecnik's back-post header pulls a goal back just two minutes from time and keeps this tie alive. Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko et al aren't through just yet.

17.41 England 0 Brazil 0

England enjoy their best spell of the match, with Darren Bent having a drive deflected behind. From the resulting corner, James Milner twists and turns in the box and smashes the ball just over the bar.

All smiles: Kaka of Brazil greets England captain Wayne Rooney

17.38 Egypt 1 Algeria 0

Former Wigan striker Amr Zaki gives Egypt an early lead in North Africa's grudge match.

17.34 England 0 Brazil 0

Brazil have taken charge of the game, with Nilmar, Kaka and Felipe Melo all going close with shots. Nilmar then finds himself running clean through but fails to shoot, taking a tumble before he is dispossessed.

The Indomitable Lions have beaten Morocco 2-0 to reach the World Cup finals - well done them.

17.25 England 0 Brazil 0

England narrowly avoid calamity after Ben Foster's clearance lands at the feet of Kaka 25 yards out. The Real Madrid man somehow lets the ball run through his legs and then falls flat on the floor, before rolling around a bit. Apart from that, it's pretty quiet in Doha, the home fans resorting to a very early Mexican wave.

Joleon Lescott is a towering presence at the heart of England's defence early on, intercepting a cross from Nilmar, making a challenge on Luis Fabiano that is almost Bobby Moore-esque in its timing and then calmly snuffing out the danger after a rampaging break from the halfway line by Kaka.

17.13 GOAL! Russia 2 (Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 52) Slovenia 0

It's almost time to book your tickets to South Africa, Mr Putin! Andrey Arshavin's square pass inside the box ricochets off Bilyaletdinov and a Slovenian defender, before the Everton star with the virtually unpronouncable name pounces to prod home his second goal of the game.

17.08 England 0 Brazil 0

Early chance for England. Shaun Wright-Phillips breaks down the right and curls in a teasing cross, which just eludes the sliding Wayne Rooney. He probably should have buried that.

The teams: England and Brazil emerge at the Khalifa International Stadium

17.03 England kick off against Brazil

The English and Brazilian anthems blare out at the Khalifa International stadium in Doha after the teams walk out to a rapturous reception from the star-struck locals. There's a fair few English fans in the crowd too. James Milner, lining up for God Save the Queen, looks thoroughly bemused by it all.Then there's a minute's silence in memory of tragic Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke.

An Aaron Ramsey-inspired Wales run out easy winners at the Cardiff City Stadium, while George Burley must now be thoroughly depressed after his team's pathetic performance. He might now find himself out of a job in the morning, it really was that bad.

16.40 GOAL! Russia 1 (Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 40) Slovenia 0

A goal made in the Premier League. Spurs striker Pavlyuchenko slides the ball through to Bilyaletdinov and the Everton striker turns two defenders and with the outside of his foot fires the ball into the top corner.

16.30 Wales 3 Scotland 0

Bored with the footy, Scottish fans launch into a rousing rendition of 'Flower of Scotland' wich is applauded by the Welsh contingent.

16.25 Russia 0-0 Slovenia

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin'sin the crowd in Moscow but he's not seen much. Russia have had most of the possession but Pavlyuchenkois ploughing a lone furrow while Slovenia have carried a greater threat during their rare attacks.

16.14 Wales 3 Scotland 0

Ramsey off to a standing ovation, what a display by the 18-year-old.

16.04 Wales 3 Scotland 0

Marshall should be off after the keeper dashed out of his box to deny Volkes but the ref bottled it and dished out a yellow card. TV replay showed that the ball cannoned off his chest not his arm but if the ref thought it was handball, then under the letter of the law he had to go.

16.00 Wales 3 Scotland 0

Wales make two changes for the second half with Volkes and Earnshaw replacing Evans and Church.

Only way to travel: England fans ride camels outside the ground before the friendly between Brazil and England

Scotland boss George Burley goes down the tunnel to a chorus of boos from the travelling Tartan army.

15.36 Wales 3 Scotland 0

Lucky escape for Scotland. Wales should have been awarded a penalty when Evans was bundled over by Dorrans but the Swiss ref, obviously feeling sorry for the visitors, waives away the appeals.

Face says it all: Scotland manager George Burley (left) and Wales boss John Toshack (right) together on the touchline

15.35 GOAL! Wales 3 (Aaron Ramsey 35) Scotland 0

Easy, easy, the home crowd chant. Arsenal midfielder Ramsey, just 18, picked up a loose ball just on the halfway line, ran into the box and brushed off McManus and Fletcher before slipping the ball pastMarshall.

15.32 GOAL! Wales 2 (Simon Church 32) Scotland 0

Church scores his first goal for Wales. Ramsey opened up the defence with a neat ball down the left to Evans and his cut back is prodded home by the Reading striker.

15.18 GOAL! Wales 1 (David Edwards 17) Scotland 0

Cracking strike from Edwards. Neat one-two down the right released Ramsey and his whipped cross was spectacularly volleyed into the net by the Wolves midfielder.

15.09 Nigeria qualify for 2010 finals

Former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins scored a late winner as Nigeria beat Kenya 3-2 in Nairobi to finish top of African zone Group B and qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. Nigeria won the group by a single point from Tunisia, who were beaten 1-0 in Mozambique.

15.05 Wales v Scotland

A sparse crowd at Cardiff's new stadium sees the visitors make a bright
start McFadden twice goes close in a minute. First his smart turn and
shot is kept out by the feet ofHennessey and then he fires just wide from the edge of the box.

Right up our street: Aaron Ramsey (right) celebrates scoring Wales' third goal with Simon Church (left)